lefty models

ok looking to buy a lefty for my on one fattty but dont know which models fit or have enough tyre clearance, anybody out there who owns a lefty or knows which fit fat bikes please put model number aand bike it fits it might help all who's looking to buy a lefty
thanks very much
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These clamps are designed with the intent of being used on any number of Fatbikes to add front suspension. The industry standard 17.5mm horizontal offset is created by the clamps themselves. A Fat Lefty can run the fattest combos known to date, and have the ability to go EVEN FATTER, as this segment continues grow adapt and change to the whims of it's adherents.

The beauty of this system is an outgrowth of the wonderfully flexible nature of the Lefty system itself. Virtually any Lefty starts life as a 26" wheeled fork. Plug in 30 mm of travel reduction and possibly some air spring volume tweaking, and it becomes safe and functional as a fork for 29" wheels.

Since Fatbikes are effectively 29ers, the Lefty in 29er mode, is a solid choice for those wanting a little more out of their Fatbike. Be it speed, comfort, calming and controlling that big basketball on the front end a bit better, etc this will deliver on all fronts. Many riders note the ability for the front end to stay stuck to the ground better on climbs, which is always nice.

The other potential plus is availability of used forks, keeping costs down.

The set up requires use of the older movable clamp style for Lefty, so a modern OPI upper, bonded clamp, or carbon, won't work. There are a huge number of these forks out there though, and due to being inexpensively serviceable, a fork found unusable, can generally be brought to factory fresh, ridable condition for around $100.

2001-2004 Lefty DLR/ELO, Titanium axled forks are a good choice with 100mm original travel (tuned to 70mm for fat use), and an axle to crown of 480mm.

2005-2007 Lefty Max 140mm FFD/TPC/SPV alloy's are the flexible choice, as they can be used in original configuration, or, drop a modern 2012 Cannondale PBR or XLR damper in, and have the choice of 110-70 mm of Fat travel, and axle to crown of 520 to 480. Anything in between is possible too, allowing for exact wishes to be met, this set up nets a fork at 4.67 lbs, or 2100 grams with an uncut steerer.

Ultimate travel is a complex factor, tied to the stack height of the head tube and headset. Maximum stack height is currently 168mm, but I have a taller dropped top clamp in the works, will will allow 198mm, enough for almost all currently available configurations.

Once the fork is installed, assuming one isn't using the absolute max clamp spacing, the user can often add some more travel to the fork by sliding the fork downward and removing spacer clips, but this needs to be done with an eye to personal safety, so test with a softened fork and some serious stabbing in a parking lot, prior to hitting the trail.

Wheels do require a Lefty hub, of which there are a number to choose from, Cannondales own basic black version, to Project 321's technicolor dreams, Tune's Euro funky version, DT Swiss, Woodman, the list goes on. Rims are laced with offset to the drive side, using a Surly 17.5 offset build spacer on the drive side of the hub. Cross laced wheels are out there, but do require a very patient builder, and to date, the offset rim builds have proved perfectly solid and more than adequate. Due to the free rotating ability of the fork in the clamps, you can also tweak dish issues, wheelbase/fork rake, to your personal preference.

My suggestion: Pinkbike. Post a want ad for a Lefty Max and you'll get like instantaneous responses. And none of the price gouging that you'll see on eBay- eBay sellers seem to know about the fatbiker's interest in the older Leftys, whereas on Pinkbike, not so much.

I was wondering if you could raise up a Lefty Max enough on a medium to small frame by using an upper clamp for a large/XXL frame on top and an upper clamp from a medium frame on the bottom to get the full 140mm of travel and a crown high enough for clearance?

I was wondering if you could raise up a Lefty Max enough on a medium to small frame by using an upper clamp for a large/XXL frame on top and an upper clamp from a medium frame on the bottom to get the full 140mm of travel and a crown high enough for clearance?

Yes, that is how my mukluk is setup. I used the uber drop upper clamp on my medium frame which hs a headset stack of 168ish mm's. Keep in mind that doing this changes your head tube angle and axel-crown measurement. That said, I love the fork and how this setup has effected the handling of my mukluk. It truly feels like a new bike when compared to the stock front end.

Yes, that is how my mukluk is setup. I used the uber drop upper clamp on my medium frame which hs a headset stack of 168ish mm's. Keep in mind that doing this changes your head tube angle and axel-crown measurement. That said, I love the fork and how this setup has effected the handling of my mukluk. It truly feels like a new bike when compared to the stock front end.

great!
I've got a lefty and clamps for a large frame coming, along with a MargeLite wheel.

All I need now is the medium rise clamp to go under my short headset on my OnOne medium Fatty.

My head angle is kind of slack already, so I hope it doesn't end up too slack.

If it does, though, I can just put the regular bottom clamp back on, and move the medium rise up to the top.

great!
I've got a lefty and clamps for a large frame coming, along with a MargeLite wheel.

All I need now is the medium rise clamp to go under my short headset on my OnOne medium Fatty.

My head angle is kind of slack already, so I hope it doesn't end up too slack.

If it does, though, I can just put the regular bottom clamp back on, and move the medium rise up to the top.

When setting mine up, I was concerned that the hta would be too slack. I had considered installing the stem below the upper clamp, which would allow you to move the fork tube up. Mght end up looking bizarre, but would probably get the job done. Just a thought in case you cannot get the correct upper clamp.

To help with the slack angle after I converted a pugsley I put a 4.8 tire on the rear and a 3.8 on the front. Then I also put a low rise (from a road bike) and slightly longer stem on. Stem helped with the balance between from and rear wheel, general fit/handling feel. Handling for cross country use felt much better.

Without these changes I felt the steering as too slack when climbing or even on the flats. Might have gotten use to it as it wasn't terrible just slow.